Press Releases

UNECE to commemorate 2013 United Nations Global Road Safety Week

To commemorate the United Nations Road Safety Week (6-12 May 2013), UNECE and key partners are organizing a series of events at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on 6 and 7 May 2013.

The key events will include:

a symposium on regional perspectives on drinking and driving organized by UNECE and the International Center for Alcohol Policies, which will gather experts from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East to discuss the main issues influencing alcohol-related accidents involving pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

an interactive youth and young leaders session “Scouting for Global Road Safety”organized in partnership with the World Organization of the Scout Movement, the Hellenic Road Safety Institute “Panos Mylonas” and Scouting Ireland, which will give young leaders from the Rover Scouts Programme an opportunity to participate in an interactive lecture by Professor Claes Tingvall, one of the creators of Sweden’s “Vision Zero” concept.

a roundtable to celebrate the 2013 International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) on 7 May, which will emphasize the importance of road safety at level crossings, in cooperation with the International Union of Railways.

a discussion forum on insurance and road safety focusing on victims’ rights, organized in cooperation with the Council of Bureaux, the key international organization handling and settling claims arising from accidents caused by visiting motorists.

Side events will include two poster signing ceremonies, the exhibition showcasing the top entries from an international drawing contest on safety at level crossings, and the testing for driver fatigue using top-of- the line equipment.

Commenting on the programme, UNECE Executive Secretary Sven Alkalaj said: “Many UNECE member States continue to make good progress in addressing road safety as reflected in declining or stabilized low numbers of road fatalities at the national level. However, road safety is a timeless message that needs to be raised continuously and reaffirmed to everyone in society, be they part of the younger generation, experienced decision makers in government, or retirees. It is also important that member States around the world that have not yet done so consider becoming contracting parties to the UN road safety-related legal instruments such as the 1968 Conventions on Road Traffic and on Road Signs and Signals.”

General Assembly resolution 66/260 of May 2012 requested the United Nations Regional Commissions to organize activities to raise awareness about road safety issues during the United Nations Global Road Safety Week to be held on 6-12 May 2013.

ILCAD is spearheaded by the International Union of Railways with the support of the railway community around the world to raise awareness among road users of the risks at level crossings. The fifth annual ILCAD will be celebrated on 7 May 2013 in Geneva with a press conference followed by two roundtable discussions on the three E’s of safe level crossings: Education, Engineering and Enforcement. The event will conclude with the opening of an exhibition featuring entries from an international children’s drawing contest on safety at level crossings.